Flight Of The Conchords 'I Told You I Was Freaky' (Sub Pop) 02/11/09

This latest long player from Flight Of The Conchords sees Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement collate some of their best songs from the second series of the now-huge TV show, all into a handy, half-hour package.

While allowing for the inclusion of a fan favourite such as ‘Hurt Feelings’, which charts the duo’s amusing take on rapper sensitivity amid the trusted combination of hip-hop beats, soulful choruses and a breathy middle eight, the album also contains the odd tune which tends to fall wide of the mark, ‘Demon Woman’ being one such example.

By and large though, their madcap scenarios and stories translate effectively into a strictly audio-based medium, certainly capable of making their mark on anyone unfamiliar with the pair on first encountering the music.

‘Rambling Through The Avenues Of Time’ is a particular highlight, with Bret’s nostalgic, lovelorn ode constantly being interrupted by the sarcastic asides from Jemaine. Similarly, ‘We’re Both In Love With A Sexy Lady’ provides further proof that FOTC are at their best when adopting a more conversational style to their two-voiced approach.

That’s not to say that their dalliances from these laid-back rap-battle-like segments don’t reap dividends though. ‘Fashion Is Danger’ is a rip-roaring 80s pastiche which conjures up sonic comparisons to Marilyn Manson taking The Human League out on a date to see Zoolander, such is the overblown nature of its fusion of synths and bass drum, continuously littered with deep-voiced swoons and faux-English accents.

‘Petrov, Yelyena and Me’ also develops from being an amusing, end-of-the-pier organ-led ditty into an altogther more disturbing series of images centred around something akin to a cannibalistic threesome in Siberia.

Although fans of the TV show might disagree, there will inevitably be tracks on the record which won’t be to everyone’s taste. Overall however, Bret and Jemaine’s will to experiment with different genres and parodies makes for compelling listening throughout, with listeners generally unable to predict which direction the guys are going to take with each passing song.

The fact that the majority of the material on this latest Flight Of The Conchords album works well outside of its televisual context, is a testament to Bret and Jemaine’s hilariously broad instrumental range and unerring way with a melody. While quirky unpredictability may be their forte, the duo continue to boast a canny knack for crafting memorable, funny pop songs.